Strawberry Spinach Salad features tender spinach, juicy strawberries, toasted almonds, feta, and a homemade poppy seed dressing to deliver a simple, yet impressively delicious and beautiful spring salad.

Spinach salad in serving dish topped with strawberies and poppyseed dressing.

Strawberry Spinach Salad is one of my all-time favorite spring salad recipes. Scratch that, it is one of my favorite salad recipes EVER!!!

Bursting with fresh, sweet strawberries and tender spinach, this simple spring salad is elevated with toasted almonds, mild shallots, salty feta cheese, and a creamy, dreamy poppy seed dressing.

Not only are the flavors a perfect balance between sweet, savory, and salty, this Strawberry Spinach Salad is a stunner.

why you'll love this Strawberry Spinach Salad

Party Perfect. This is the spinach salad that everyone loves! It is the perfect salad to bring to a potluck, or dinner party, pair with an elegant brunch, or for a bridal or baby shower.
Easy to Make. Strawberry Spinach Salad comes together in less than 10 minutes, making it one of the easiest salad recipes.
Delicious. Creamy, salty, fresh, and vibrant, this Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing is a knock-out in terms of flavor.
Healthy. Made with nutrient-dense spinach and strawberries and a wholesome homemade dressing, this salad is bursting with vitamins and antioxidants.
Beautiful. The contrast in colors from the vibrant green spinach to the red, ripe strawberries makes this salad visually stunning.

Notes on Ingredients

Ingredients for Strawberry Spinach Salad on counter.

Spinach: Baby spinach is best for this salad. It is tender and mild in flavor, without the bitterness larger spinach leaves can
Strawberries: Fresh, juicy strawberries are a must. Be sure to select ripe, vibrantly red strawberries for the best flavor.
Shallots: Shallots are optional, but the mild sharpness they provide to the salad is a great contrast to the sweet dressing and strawberries. I also find the shallots don't overwhelm the flavors as an onion can. It is also used in my recipe for poppy seed dressing.
Feta: Sharp, salty feta adds so much flavor to this salad. Crumbled goat cheese is another option to use in place of crumbled feta cheese.
Sliced Almonds: Almonds add a nice crunch to this simple salad. It is best to toast the almonds to bring out their flavor. Chopped walnuts or pecans make a great substitute for almonds. And, if you need this salad to be nut-free, omit the almonds.
Poppy Seed Dressing: You can purchase your favorite poppyseed dressing, but this homemade dressing is simple to make and is so much fresher tasting. If you don't care for poppyseed dressing, Raspberry Dressing or Balsamic Vinaigrette make great substitutes and pair well with the strawberries and spinach.

How To Make Strawberry Spinach Salad

The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step One: Prepare Dressing. Prepare the salad dressing by whisking together the yogurt, mustard, honey, grated shallot vinegar, poppy seeds, and salt in a small mixing bowl. Chill the dressing until ready to serve.

Step Two: Toast the Nuts. I also recommend toasting the nuts to help develop their flavor. Place the nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, tossing every 30 seconds. When you smell the nuts, they will be ready!

Step Three: Assemble. To assemble the salad, toss together the spinach, shallots, and strawberries in a large serving bowl.

Strawberries and shallots on top of spinach.

Feta and almonds sprinkled over spinach strawberry salad.

Step Four: Serve. Add a bit of dressing and toss before serving. Serve the remaining dressing on the side. One thing you want to keep in mind when serving this Strawberry Spinach Salad to a crowd is you may want to serve the dressing, almonds, and feta on the side. That way everyone can prepare this salad how they desire. This is especially important if serving anyone with food allergies or sensitivities.

Bowl of prepared Spring Strawberry Spinach Salad.

Preparing In Advance

Strawberry Spinach Salad is best served immediately after assembling. However, you can prep several of the components up to 24 hours in advance.

Prepare the Poppy Seed Dressing and store it in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Toast the nuts as directed and then let them cool completely. Place the toasted nuts into an airtight container and store them at room temperature.
Slice the shallots place them into a container and pour water over the shallots. This will keep the shallots crisp-tender and remove any of their sharp taste. Store the shallots in the refrigerator. Simply drain off the water before adding the shallots to the salad.
If needed, wash, dry, and chop the spinach and store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container with a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture.
Wait until right before assembling the strawberry spinach salad to wash, hull, and slice the strawberries.
When ready to serve the salad, toss together the spinach, strawberries, shallots, feta, dressing, and nuts as the recipe directs.

Serving Suggestions

This Strawberry Spinach Salad is always a crowd-pleaser, even with people who often turn their noses up to salad.

It is the perfect salad to include on your brunch menu alongside Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole, French Toast Casserole, and Quiche Lorraine. Or pair it with Pasta Primavera or Easy Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu for a light dinner perfect for spring. It also pairs well with Pineapple Glazed Ham, Instant Pot Mac and Cheese, and Air Fryer Asparagus for a fabulous Easter Dinner.

More Delicious Salad Recipes

If you gave this Strawberry Spinach Salad a try, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.

This post was originally published in 2018 but was updated in 2022 with a new video and tips.

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